Dallas-Fort Worth

Core Express Service

Scoping Summary Report

Final

Prepared for:

Federal Railroad Administration and

Texas Department of Transportation

Prepared by:

Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc.

June 2015
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Table of Contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Project Overview................................................................................................. 1

1.1.1 Project Purpose and Need .................................................................... 1

1.1.2 Environmental Study and Agency Roles ............................................... 1

1.1.3 Potential Corridors, Stations and Design .............................................. 2

1.1.4 Project Study Area ................................................................................. 2

1.2 Purpose of this Report ....................................................................................... 3

1.3 NEPA and the Scoping Process .......................................................................... 4

1.4 Public Outreach and Notification Process ......................................................... 5

1.4.1 Outreach to Environmental Justice and Limited-English

Proficient Stakeholders ......................................................................... 6

1.5 Ongoing Public Involvement............................................................................... 7

2.0 PUBLIC SCOPING PROCESS AND COMMENTS.......................................................... 8

2.1 Public Scoping Process Overview ...................................................................... 8

2.2 Participation by Public Officials.......................................................................... 8

2.3 Public Scoping Comments - Major Themes ..................................................... 10

2.4 Public Comments by Environmental Categories .............................................. 10

2.4.1 Potential Corridors and Station Locations .......................................... 11

2.4.2 Proposed Draft Purpose and Need ..................................................... 13

2.4.3 Environmental Issues and Concerns .................................................. 14

2.4.4 Stakeholder Questions........................................................................ 14

2.5 TxDOT Responses to Public Scoping Comments ............................................. 14

2.6 TxDOT Responses to Public Scoping Comments ............................................. 16

3.0 AGENCY SCOPING PROCESS AND COMMENTS ...................................................... 19

3.1 Agency Scoping Process Overview ................................................................... 19

3.2 Cooperating Agencies ...................................................................................... 20

3.3 Agency Scoping Summary – Major Themes .................................................... 20

4.0 NEXT STEPS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS ...................................... 22
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List of Figures

Figure 1-1: Potential Alternatives as Defined in TOPRS Study ................................................. 3

Figure 1-2: Environmental Review Process .............................................................................. 4

Figure 2-1: Public Comments by Environmental Category ..................................................... 11

Figure 2-2: Station Location Preferences ............................................................................... 12

List of Tables

Table 2-1: Public Scoping Meetings Details ............................................................................. 8

Table 2-2: Scoping Participants - Elected Officials ................................................................... 9

Table 2-3: Public Scoping Responses to Comments by Environmental Category .................. 15

Table 3-1: Agency Scoping Meeting Participants.................................................................... 19

Table 4-1: Project Schedule .................................................................................................... 22
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1.0 Introduction

1.1 Project Overview

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is working with the Federal Railroad

Administration (FRA) to study a possible high-performance, intercity passenger rail service

between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. The 30-mile, Dallas-Fort Worth Core Express Service

(Project) will evaluate the potential for a high-speed rail connector, linking other potential

high- and higher-speed passenger rail projects in Texas.

In addition to providing faster, limited-stop trains for people traveling between Dallas and

Fort Worth, the Project could provide a critical link between projects including:

x The proposed 240-mile Dallas to Houston High-Speed Rail Project, which would

terminate in Dallas; and,

x The Texas-Oklahoma Passenger Rail Study (TOPRS), which evaluates a range of

possible conventional, higher-speed and high-speed service alternatives that could

span 850 miles from Oklahoma City to South Texas, through the Dallas-Fort Worth

(D-FW) Metroplex.

1.1.1 Project Purpose and Need

The purpose of the Project is to study the feasibility of a financially viable, safe, reliable, and

environmentally sustainable intercity passenger rail service connecting Dallas and Fort

Worth that could provide a key link between existing and potential Texas high-performance

passenger rail systems. This service could offer a convenient alternative to driving and

enhance transportation alternatives for travel to and from the D-FW Metroplex.

By the year 2035, the Dallas-Fort Worth region is forecasted to grow from 6.5 million to 9.8

million residents, an increase of more than 50 percent. This rapid growth will increase traffic

congestion and reduce air quality. A reliable option is needed in the Metroplex that could

provide an alternative to driving between major cities in Texas and surrounding states, while

also improving local mobility.

1.1.2 Environmental Study and Agency Roles

The Project is being evaluated through a project-level Environmental Impact Statement (EIS),

initiated in 2014, under a grant issued to TxDOT by FRA on behalf of the United States

Department of Transportation. The EIS is being prepared pursuant to the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq.) and the preparation is
Dallas -Fort Worth Core Express Service Project | Scoping Summary Report | Final 2

being managed by TxDOT. FRA is the lead federal agency providing oversight and

responsibility for the final decision on Project implementation.

The EIS will evaluate the environmental implications of various route and operation

alternatives for high-performance passenger rail in an area served by Amtrak’s limited, longdistance Texas Eagle and the local-serving Trinity River Express (TRE) commuter rail service.

The EIS builds upon the TOPRS program-level EIS, focusing only on the segment between

Dallas and Fort Worth.

1.1.3 Potential Corridors, Stations and Design

The final alignment has not been determined, but it is anticipated that the rail service could

use an existing transportation corridor or existing linear infrastructure, such as railroads,

roads, and utilities. The EIS will evaluate potential corridors, as well as a “no build”

alternative.

Although there has been regional discussion about station concepts serving downtown

Dallas, Arlington and downtown Fort Worth, specific station locations have not yet been

determined. TxDOT supports the study of the three station approach outlined in adopted

regional transportation plans. The Project will determine opportunity zones for future station

sites and test station configurations. Specific locations would be determined as part of

regionally-led implementation efforts that may follow after the EIS is complete.

While the service technology will be steel wheel on steel rail, the type of train equipment and

speeds are not yet known. The EIS will evaluate a range of potential train types and speeds,

their respective benefits, and potential community and environmental impacts.

The results of the EIS will inform and support FRA’s decision on train types and speeds,

route alignment, rail service station location, operational configuration and other project

details.

1.1.4 Project Study Area

Figure 1-1 shows the Project study area and the two Project corridors, or “Build

Alternatives,” recommended in the program-level TOPRS for further study: Trinity Rail

Express (TRE) Commuter Rail corridor and the Interstate Highway 30 (I-30) corridor.

These Build Alternatives were shared during the public scoping process. Stakeholders were

encouraged to comment on these two corridors and suggest additional Build Alternatives for

consideration.
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The preferred alternative for the Project will be determined by the FRA, in coordination with

TxDOT, as a result of the EIS process, including the possibility that the outcome could be the

“no-build” alternative.

Figure 1-1: Potential Alternatives as Defined in TOPRS Study

1.2 Purpose of this Report

This Scoping Summary Report provides a summary of the process used and comments

received during the four-month public scoping period in late 2014. An explanation of the

scoping process, including a summary of comments provided by members of the public,

regulatory agencies, local governments, and other stakeholders, are provided in later

sections of this report.
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1.3 NEPA and the Scoping Process

The environmental review process is governed by NEPA and includes the public scoping,

development of the Purpose and Need Statement, analysis of alternatives, identification of

environmental consequences of these alternatives, and proposes mitigation measures. The

NEPA process also includes agency and stakeholder involvement, publication of a Draft EIS

and a Final EIS, and issuance of a final Record of Decision (ROD) by FRA. Figure 1-2

summarizes the EIS process for the Project, which is expected to conclude in 2017.

Figure 1-2: Environmental Review Process

The first step in the development of the EIS is the “scoping” process. Scoping enables

people, agencies and other interested parties to learn about and help shape the Project.

Input received is used to refine and further develop the Purpose and Need Statement, which

is used to identify a range of reasonable alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS.

Scoping is not conducted to resolve differences concerning the merits of a project or to

anticipate the ultimate decision on a project. Rather, the purpose of scoping is to help

ensure that a comprehensive and focused EIS will be prepared to provide a firm basis for

the decision-making process. Significant issues may be identified through public,

stakeholder, and agency comments that require coordination with agencies to develop

methodology to evaluate potential alternatives in the EIS.

The scoping process for the Project was carried out in accordance with NEPA over a 4-month

period from September 5 through December 15, 2014. During this period, TxDOT and the

FRA invited the public, stakeholders, and agencies to comment on the draft Purpose and

Need statement, the Project study area, the range of alternatives to be considered, and the

types of environmental issues and impacts to be evaluated in the EIS. A scoping package

that provided background information on each of these topics was posted on the Project

website: http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/projects/studies/statewide/dfw-coreexpress.html.
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Nearly 400 people, including residents, business owners, public officials, and public

agencies, participated in the Project scoping process. Approximately 350 individuals, agency

representatives, and elected officials attended public scoping meetings and another 50

commented in written form or online.

1.4 Public Outreach and Notification Process

TxDOT and FRA publicized the scoping process and opportunities to comment using a variety

of communications and public outreach methods as described below. The notification effort

was supported by agency partners, including local cities and the North Central Texas Council

of Governments (NCTCOG). Activities included:

 Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register by FRA on Sept. 5, 2014;

 Notice of Intent published in the Texas Register by TxDOT on Oct. 10, 2014;

 Project web pages developed by FRA and TxDOT with online comment form;

 7,500 email invitations (three rounds of emails by TxDOT; one round of emails by

NCTCOG);

 12 newspaper display ads (eight in Environmental Justice [EJ] publications);

 Emails to local elected officials and city public information officers;

 Press release by TxDOT;

 Social media posts (Facebook and Twitter);

 Public information outreach by local cities;

 Public outreach presentations to local and regional community organizations; and,

 Outreach to EJ and Limited-English Proficient (LEP) communities within the Project study

area.
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1.4.1 Outreach to Environmental Justice and Limited-English Proficient

Stakeholders

As defined in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Final Guidance for

Incorporating Environmental Justice Concerns in EPA’s NEPA Compliance Analyses, EJ is

defined as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race,

color, national origin or income with respect to the development, implementation and

enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies (EPA, 1998).

Noticing for the public scoping process included outreach to stakeholders in EJ communities

within the Project study area. Information about the scoping process was also made

available to LEP stakeholders. Materials were translated into Spanish and offered in other

languages and formats, upon request. Translators and court-reporters were on-hand at all

public meetings and assisted non-English-speaking and sight-impaired stakeholders in

communicating ideas about the Project.

Specifically, the Project team:

 Emailed 102 chambers of commerce, organizations, neighborhood associations,

churches, libraries and senior, recreation and community centers, social service and

Department of Health and Human Services agencies and organizations serving EJ

populations. Emails asked recipients to forward on information about the public scoping

meetings. Entities in Dallas, Grand Prairie, Arlington, Irving, and Fort Worth were included

on the email list.

 Distributed an email and followed up with a telephone contact to communication officers

of the cities of Dallas, Grand Prairie, Arlington, Irving, and Fort Worth. A request for

assistance was made during telephone contacts to distribute the notice of scoping

meetings to areas and entities serving EJ and LEP populations.

 Mailed sets of 20 flyers to 189 county commission and city council members, chambers

of commerce, organizations, neighborhood associations, churches, libraries and senior,

recreation and community centers, social service and Department of Health and Human

Services agencies and organizations serving EJ populations. Recipients were asked to

post and/or distribute the flyers and were informed that additional copies would be

made available upon request.

 Provided public scoping meeting flier notifications to participants of the Oak Cliff

Chamber of Commerce Transportation Forum, a special community event in

southwestern Dallas held on November 14, 2014.

 Published display advertisements 14 days and seven days in advance of the public

scoping meetings in Al Día and La Estrella en Casa, the Spanish newspapers in Dallas
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and Fort Worth, respectively, and in La Vida News: The Black Voice in Fort Worth and The

Dallas Weekly in Dallas, which both serve African-American communities. Copies of the

ads and affidavits of publication appear in the Scoping Summary Appendix.

 Attended, by invitation, the West Dallas Chamber of Commerce annual meeting on

December 8, 2014. Provided a public information table, informational displays, bi-lingual

fact sheets, and comment forms.

The appendix contains a listing of the agencies and organizations that received mailings or

email notifications of the public scoping meetings.

1.5 Ongoing Public Involvement

Even though scoping is a distinct stage in the EIS process, public involvement activities will

continue throughout the environmental review process. Comments received through the

public engagement process will continue to be considered in development of engineering

and environmental studies; however, they will not be included in this Scoping Summary

Report, which documents results of the process during the public scoping period from

September 5 to December 15, 2014.
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2.0 Public Scoping Process and Comments

2.1 Public Scoping Process Overview

More than 350 people attended three public

scoping meetings held in November 2014.

The meetings were held in Fort Worth,

Arlington, and Dallas during daytime and

evening hours. Table 2-1 summarizes the

details of the public scoping meetings.

The meetings included a presentation by FRA

and TxDOT, an informational open house,

and opportunities for public and private

testimony.

Comments were received at the public

scoping meetings, as well as via mail, email,

and the Project website.

Table 2-1: Public Scoping Meetings Details

Fort Worth Arlington Dallas

Tues., Nov. 18, 2014

4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Wed., Nov. 19, 2014

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Thurs., Nov. 20, 2014

4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Fort Worth Intermodal

Transportation Center

NCTCOG, Transportation

Council Room

J. Erik Jonsson Central Library

Auditorium

114 Attendees 152 Attendees 91 Attendees

2.2 Participation by Public Officials

A number of local, regional, state and federal elected representatives attended, submitted

comments, or sent representatives to participate in the public scoping meetings. Table 2-2

lists those officials and representatives.

More than 150 people attended the public scoping in

Arlington, Texas.
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Table 2-2: Scoping Participants - Elected Officials

Local Officials State Officials Federal Officials

Hon. Betsy Price

Mayor

City of Fort Worth

Susan Young

District Director

SD 9, Office of State Sen. Kelly

Hancock

Luke Harvey

Constituent Services

Office of U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice

Johnson

Hon. Robert Cluck

Mayor

City of Arlington

Devan Allen

District Director

HD 101, Office of State Rep.

Chris Turner

Hon. Sal Espino

Councilman District 2

Mayor Pro Tem

City of Fort Worth

Angel Murray

District Director

HD 95, Office of State Rep. Nicole

Collier

Hon. Kathryn Wilemon

Councilwoman District 4

Mayor Pro Tem

City of Arlington

Scott Stier

District Director

HD 93, Office of State Rep. Matt

Krause

Hon. Jeremy Tompkins

Councilman District 2

City of Euless

Hon. Vonciel Jones Hill

Councilwoman District 3

City of Dallas

In addition to elected officials and their representatives, a number of appointed officials

participated in the public scoping meetings and provided comments, including the following

members of the Texas Commission for High-Speed Rail in the D-FW region. Commission

members included:

 Hon. Vonciel Jones Hill

 Jere Thompson

 Lorraine Miller

 Jeff Williams
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2.3 Public Scoping Comments - Major Themes

TxDOT and FRA received approximately 90 written, oral, and online comments from

members of the public, elected officials and local or regional government agencies during

the scoping period. Additional input was received from federal, state, regional and local

agencies at two agency scoping meetings held in October 2014, as described in Section 3.

Many of these comments shared common themes, suggestions or concerns. Each of the

ideas, comments, and concerns expressed during the scoping period were reviewed by

TxDOT and the FRA and will be used to inform the EIS. The comments are detailed in the

Scoping Summary Report Appendix.

Overall, the comments from agency representatives, local elected officials, and the public

were in support of the Project. Reasons for support included the opinion that the Project has

the potential to transform the D-FW Metroplex and enhance the North Texas region by

improving mobility, making travel more reliable, reducing highway congestion, and fostering

an interconnected and multimodal transportation system across the region and statewide.

Stakeholders who expressed support for the Project highlighted additional benefits, stating

including improved air quality, increased safety of travelers, regional economic growth

opportunities, avoidance of conflicts with freight movement, and a faster alternative to

driving.

Issues and concerns were also raised by some stakeholders. Concerns generally included

the Project cost, available funding, pedestrian access and safety, environmental impacts,

public involvement, and other topics, as discussed in more detail below.

2.4 Public Comments by Environmental Categories

Public comments were grouped into major categories, consistent with the topics to be

studied in the EIS. Figure 2-1 demonstrates the frequency of comments by environmental

category.
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Figure 2-1: Public Comments by Environmental Category

2.4.1 Potential Corridors and Station Locations

Many of comments received were in support of a faster passenger rail connection between

Dallas and Fort Worth. Other themes included:

 Use existing transportation corridors;

 Explore efficiencies that could be gained by investing in and using the TRE line;

 Provide three stations with stops in downtown Fort Worth, the Arlington Entertainment

District, and downtown Dallas;

 Ensure connectivity to other proposed passenger rail projects;

 Provide sufficient and affordable long-term parking around station locations;

 Locate maintenance facilities to maximize local job opportunities; and,
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 Avoid placing a station in Arlington due to a lack of sufficient public transit to support

intermodal goals, concern that trip times would be reduced by having an intermediate

station, and access to the station and the Entertainment District is not pedestrianfriendly.

2.4.1.1 Station Location Preference Exercise

A preliminary preference exercise was conducted during the public scoping meetings. The

exercise allowed meeting participants to express preferences for potential station locations.

Figure 2-2 depicts the results of the preference exercise. It is important to note that this

information does not serve as a statistically representative sample of regional or local public

opinion.

Figure 2-2: Station Location Preferences
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2.4.2 Proposed Draft Purpose and Need

Many public comments focused on the Project’s purpose and need, environmental

concerns, potential cost and funding, system features and schedule, transportation

connectivity, and the need for agency and Project coordination. Key opinions expressed

included:

 Provide high-speed rail that is efficient, safe, and reliable, and improves regional and

state mobility;

 Create a “one-seat ride” experience, connecting to other future high-speed rail corridors

and allow riders to depart from Houston and ride to Fort Worth without having to change

trains in Dallas;

 Coordinate with the Dallas to Houston High-Speed Rail Project, local agencies (i.e.

NCTCOG, transit agencies), and transportation projects (such as I-30 improvements) in

the development of the EIS and selection of alignments and station locations;

 Choose the alternative that is the most cost-effective, uses existing transportation

corridors to the fullest extent possible, and minimizes relocation impacts/displacement;

 Do not build the Project given that the transportation system in the Metroplex functions

effectively, demand is insufficient to support ridership, the Project is not economically

sustainable, and/or public funds would be better spent on highway projects or

improvements to the TRE corridor/service;

 Spend transportation funds to enhance social equity by providing mobility to

underserved segments of the population that would most benefit (e.g. public transit);

 Consider the region’s growing population, particularly from western Tarrant County, when

calculating long-term demand for new high-speed rail service;

 Use the same rail technology as the Dallas to Houston High-Speed Rail Project, or

consider alternative technologies;

 Ensure strong connections between the Project and existing transit services (Dallas Area

Rapid Transit (DART), Trinity Railway Express (TRE), The Fort Worth Transportation

Authority (The T); and,

 Ensure that the Project does not slow the implementation of the Dallas to Houston HighSpeed Rail Project and construct the two projects concurrently, if possible.
Dallas -Fort Worth Core Express Service Project | Scoping Summary Report | Final 14

2.4.3 Environmental Issues and Concerns

Some stakeholders raised issues or expressed concerns about potential environmental

impacts. These issues and concerns included:

 Minimize relocations and displacements;

 Avoid floodplains and wetlands;

 Preserve wildlife habitat;

 Consider visual and noise impacts; and,

 Provide wildlife crossings across the rail alignment.

2.4.4 Stakeholder Questions

A number of participants had questions that will be answered as part of the Project EIS

process including the costs associated with the Project, potential funding sources, rail

alignments, number of stations, and station locations. Some participants wanted to know

what type of rail technology the Project will use, which will not be determined as part of the

EIS.

2.5 TxDOT Responses to Public Scoping Comments

TxDOT and FRA received more than 90 comments from members of the public, elected

officials and local or regional government agencies during the Project scoping period

between September 5 and December 15, 2014. The comments are categorized for further

analysis by TxDOT, FRA, and the Project team into 11 major themes that cover the following

topics:
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Table 2-3: Public Scoping Responses to Comments by Environmental Category

Public Scoping Comment Responses to Comments by Environmental Category

1. Project Purpose and Need

2. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)/Environmental

2A. Human Environment

 Land Use and Land Use Plans

- Agricultural Land

- Regional and Joint Development Opportunities

 Social and Economic

- Neighborhoods

- Community Facilities

- Environmental Justice

- Economic Impacts

- Relocations and Acquisitions

2B. Physical Environment

 Aesthetics and Visual Resources

 Air Quality

 Hazardous Materials & Solid Waste Disposal

 Health, Safety, and Security

 Indirect and Cumulative Impacts

 Noise and Vibration

 Topography, Geology & Soils

 Cultural Resources

- Archaeological Resources

- Historic & Resources

 Parks and Recreation Resources

- Parks & Recreational Areas and Facilities

- Section 4(f)/6(f)

2C. Natural Environment

 Aquatic Habitat

 Ecological Systems

 Habitat & Wildlife (Non-Wetlands, including Refuges)

 Hydrology & Water Resources

 Water Quality

 Wetlands

 Endangered, Rare and Threatened Species

3. Alignments/Alternatives

4. Construction/Operation/Design/Technology

 Construction Issues

 Design Quality

 Implementation Planning

 Maintenance & Support Facilities

 Mitigation

 Operational Issues

 Rail Service/Operations

 Utility Issues

5. Cost/Funding/Governance

 Commission for High-Speed Rail

 FRA

 Funding

 Government/Elected Officials/Legislative

Policy

 Project Cost

 TxDOT

6. Multimodal Planning

 Bike/Pedestrian

 Consistency with Other Plans

 Regional Growth/Planning

 Ridership

 Right of Way

 Traffic and Roadway

 Transit Impacts/Connectivity

 Transportation-Other

7. Process/Stakeholder Involvement/Legal

 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

 Environmental Process

 Legal/Litigation

 Project Description

 Public/Agency Involvement

 Request for Meeting

 Schedule

 Scoping Process

8. Statewide High-Speed Rail (Systems Plan)

9. Station Planning, Location, and Land Use

10. Comment(s) Noted

11. Outside of Project Scope
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2.6 TxDOT Responses to Public Scoping Comments

Per Texas Administrative Code, TxDOT developed responses to comments received. The majority of

the responses explain how a question will be answered or an issue addressed as part of the EIS

process. Response codes were generated for each environmental category and correspond to the

number indicated. The responses, by theme, are as follows:

1. Project Purpose and Need

“A draft proposed Purpose and Need statement was developed to obtain public and agency

comment during the scoping process, as required by the NEPA. The comments received as part of

the scoping process will be used to inform potential revisions to the Project Purpose and Need

statement for the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS will provide the documentation to justify the Project need.”

2. NEPA/Environmental Issues

2A – Human Environment

“The Draft EIS will include an evaluation of potential impacts to land use,

neighborhoods, community facilities, relocations, the socio-economic conditions in the

region, and the economic impact from the Project.”

2B – Physical Environment

“The Draft EIS will include an evaluation of potential impacts to aesthetics and visual

resources, air quality, hazardous material sites, health and safety, noise and vibration,

historic and cultural resources, and parks and recreational areas.”

2C – Natural Environment

“The Draft EIS will include an evaluation of potential impacts to aquatic and terrestrial

habitats, wildlife, wetlands, streams, water quality, and threatened and endangered

species.”

3. Alignments/Alternatives

“Following preparation of the Purpose and Need statement for the Draft EIS, TxDOT and FRA

will undertake an alternatives screening process to identify the range of reasonable

alternatives to be studied in detail in the Draft EIS. These alternatives, including alignments

and station areas, will build upon those recommended in TOPRS, as well as other potential

alternatives identified by members of the public, agencies, and other stakeholders during

the public scoping process. The alternatives analysis will be shared with the public. It is

anticipated that the Draft EIS will identify a preferred alternative.”
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4. Construction/Operation/Design/Technology

“Design and construction-period impacts of intercity passenger trains with diesel or electric

propulsion, as well as track design, operational issues, social and environmental impacts,

ridership, and other potential Project impacts or benefits will be evaluated and included in

the Draft EIS. It is anticipated that a preferred alternative will be identified in the Draft EIS

from these alternatives, which will be shared with the public for review and comment.”

5. Cost/Funding/Governance

“As part of the Project, potential preliminary estimated costs for construction, operations,

and right-of-way acquisition, as well as potential funding sources and public-private

investment opportunities for rail operations and development adjacent to station locations

will be identified. This information will be considered, along with other factors, in the

identification of a preferred alternative for public review and comment in the Draft EIS. One

of the alternatives evaluated in the Draft EIS will be a “no build” alternative, which will

consider the impacts to the human and natural environment if the project were not built

and will serve as the basis of comparison for the “build” alternatives.”

6. Multimodal Planning

“The Draft EIS will include an analysis of the existing transportation systems in the region

(automobiles, transit, air, pedestrian/bikes), as well as other existing and proposed

passenger rail services connecting major cities within and outside of Texas. Part of the

proposed draft Purpose and Need Statement is to develop an intercity passenger rail

system that enhances connectivity between the varying systems already in the study area.”

7. Process/Stakeholder Involvement/Legal

“Stakeholder participation and transparency are essential elements of the Project and the

NEPA process. TxDOT and FRA will evaluate many factors in the development of the Draft

EIS including public and agency comments. Additional opportunities for public engagement

and stakeholder input will be provided throughout the environmental review process.”
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8. Statewide High-Speed Rail (Systems Plan)

“The purpose of the Project is to provide a financially viable, safe, reliable, congestionrelieving and environmentally sustainable intercity passenger rail service connecting Dallas

and Fort Worth that provides a key link between the existing and developing Texas highperformance passenger rail service. While standing on its own as a critical part of the

region’s transportation infrastructure, the Project will be evaluated for its potential to

provide a critical link in a future state and/or national passenger rail system, including the

proposed high-speed rail line between Dallas and Houston on the east, and existing

passenger rail line from Oklahoma City through Fort Worth, and future connectivity to Austin

and/or South Texas on the west.”

9. Station Planning, Location, and Land Use

“The Draft EIS will include an evaluation of station area alternatives. The analysis will

include reviews of existing land use plans and development potential, population and

projected ridership for the new passenger rail service, access and connections to other

modes of transportation, and other social and environmental considerations. It is

anticipated that a preferred alternative, including general station areas will be identified in

the Draft EIS for public review and comment.”

10. Comment(s) Noted

“Thank you for your comment(s). They have been noted as part of the Project record.”

11. Outside of Project Scope

“This issue falls outside the scope of the Project under NEPA.”
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3.0 Agency Scoping Process and Comments

3.1 Agency Scoping Process Overview

TxDOT and FRA held two Agency Scoping Meetings in October 2014 for the purpose of

gaining input from federal and state resource agencies, as well as regional and local

jurisdictions and transportation agencies. At the meetings, TxDOT and FRA briefly described

the Project, summarized the environmental review process and schedule, and facilitated a

question and answer period to identify opportunities, constraints and concerns. Agencies

were encouraged to submit written comments for inclusion in the Scoping Summary Report.

Agencies representatives are identified in Table 3-1. Minutes from the Agency Scoping

Meetings are provided in the Scoping Summary Report Appendix.

Table 3-1: Agency Scoping Meeting Participants

Federal State Regional Local

Federal Highway

Administration*

Texas Parks &

Wildlife Department

North Central Texas

Council of

Governments

City of Fort

Worth

Federal Transit

Administration*

Texas Historical

Commission Tarrant County City of Dallas

United States Army

Corps of Engineers*

DART - Dallas Area

Rapid Transit

United States

Environmental

Protection Agency,

Region 6*

The T – Fort Worth

Transportation

Authority

United States Fish and

Wildlife Service*

NTTA - North Texas

Tollway Authority

DFW Airport

* Cooperating Agencies
Dallas -Fort Worth Core Express Service Project | Scoping Summary Report | Final 20

TxDOT and FRA also received formal correspondence from jurisdictions within the Project

study area, including the cities of Fort Worth, Arlington, Dallas, and Irving. The comments

received from elected officials, cities and other officials are included in the comments and

responses matrix in the Scoping Summary Report Appendix.

3.2 Cooperating Agencies

TxDOT and FRA serve as co-lead agencies for the Project. Prior to the Agency Scoping

Meetings, FRA invited six federal agencies to serve as “cooperating agencies” in the

development and review of the Project’s EIS.

The role of cooperating agencies is defined in NEPA regulations and in the Council on

Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR 1508.5). A cooperating agency is any

federal agency, other than a lead agency, that has jurisdiction by law or special expertise

with respect to any environmental impact involved in a proposed project or project

alternative. Cooperating agencies have a higher degree of authority, responsibility, and

involvement in the environmental review process

FRA invited the following agencies to act as cooperating agencies in the EIS process. Those

in italic text participated in the scoping process:

 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

 Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, represented by the Fort Worth District (USACE)

 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

3.3 Agency Scoping Summary – Major Themes

The major cities in the Project study area each expressed support for the concept of an

intercity passenger rail system connecting major cities in Texas, including the opportunity for

increased transportation options and economic development. The cities of Fort Worth,

Arlington, and Dallas all expressed a preference for a station location in proximity to existing

downtown stations or, in the case of Arlington, in the Entertainment District.
Dallas -Fort Worth Core Express Service Project | Scoping Summary Report | Final 21

In addition, representatives from 15 federal, state, regional and transportation agencies,

offered the following initial comments through the Agency Scoping Meetings:

Consider opportunities to:

 Align the study with the Dallas to Houston High-Speed Rail Project;

 Connect to existing regional transit systems;

 Coordinate with local agencies (e.g., NCTCOG, transit agencies);

 Invest in improvements within the TRE corridor;

 Use existing transportation corridors to avoid greater impacts;

 Factor population growth and travel demand, particularly from western Tarrant County;

and,

 Connect with DFW Airport (create a north-south link).

Avoid adverse impacts to:

 EJ communities;

 Existing rail service (DART, TRE);

 Dallas Union Station & Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation Center;

 Trinity River;

 Historic properties in downtown Dallas and Fort Worth; and,

 I-30 interchanges and new managed lanes.

As stated above, detailed minutes from the Agency Scoping Meetings are provided in the

Scoping Summary Report Appendix.
Dallas -Fort Worth Core Express Service Project | Scoping Summary Report | Final 22

4.0 Next Steps in the Environmental Review Process

Following the scoping process, the Purpose and Need statement for the EIS will be drafted.

It will be used to identify the range of reasonable alternatives that will be evaluated in the

EIS, including a no-build alternative.

Once TxDOT and FRA have identified the range of alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS, indepth analysis of existing conditions in the Project study area will be conducted to determine

the potential impacts of the alternatives in comparison to each other and the no-build

alternative. Throughout the evaluation process, additional coordination will occur with

federal, state, and local agencies.

TxDOT and FRA will continue to conduct public outreach to ensure that the public is apprised

of the Project’s progress and has the opportunity to provide input. The anticipated Project

schedule is shown in Table 4-1.

Table 4-1: Project Schedule

Project Milestone Estimate Schedule

Notice of Intent Published September 5, 2014

Project Scoping September-December 2014

Project Scoping Concluded December 15, 2014

Public Information Meeting Mid-2015

Alternatives Analysis & Technical Studies Mid-2015 – Mid-2016

Draft Environmental Document (DEIS) &

Public Hearing Late 2016

Record of Decision by FRA and Final

Environmental Document (FEIS) 2017

Public Involvement and Outreach Ongoing